Statewide Iowa — With this multiple-day widespread heat wave, those in charge of the electric grid are asking people to conserve power.
O’Brien County Economic Development Director Jared Johnson tells us that the Midcontinent Independent System Operator or “MISO” — the regional grid operator for part of our area — has issued an advisory.
MidAmerican Energy is one of the major electric providers in this area, along with Alliant, Rural Electric Coops, and several municipal power providers. MidAmerican Spokesperson Geoff Greenwood tells us about the situation.
Peak electricity costs more for utilities to make or buy, and it would also be a good idea to conserve to help prevent issues to the grid. Greenwood gives us some ways you can save energy and ways you can help stay cool.
He gives us some more tips.
Johnson says there are a number of things that would have to happen before we would get to this point, but if conditions go downhill, MISO is the entity that would make the call for mandatory rolling blackouts to prevent the grid from failing. Greenwood emphasizes we are not near that point at this time, and MidAmerican has sufficient capacity for the situation in their territory.
